HEALTH bosses in the region are backing a national campaign to give parking charges the boot for cancer patients.

Last week we told how nine North NHS trusts in the region raised £8,287,429 in parking charges – fees some campaigners have long labelled a “tax on the sick”.

However, many have revealed how they charge for seriously ill patients, making parking free or discounted for cancer patients as well as creating other concessions.

The trusts join the 10,000 supporters who have signed up to a campaign launched by cancer charity Macmillan Support to abolish or at least reduce parking fees for those having cancer treatment.

North Tees and Hartlepool makes parking free for patients undergoing a course of treatment for cancer, as does the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead.

Peter Harding, the director of Gateshead Health NHS foundation Trust’s estates and facilities, said: “We think it’s important to support these patients and their families wherever we can.”

County Durham and Darlington make parking free to relatives of long-stay patients and those with special circumstances, and free or reduced fees are offered to chemotherapy and renal patients.

Bill Headley, Director of Estates and Facilities for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We provide a number of concessions for certain categories of patients and visitors. Those with special circumstances and longer term parking needs can speak with ward staff to see if they are eligible for concessionary parking.” North Tyneside General Hospital – one of Northumbria NHS’s hospitals – offers free car parking in a number of cases.

A spokeswoman for the trust said: “The care and wellbeing of patients and their families is important to Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, therefore free car parking for cancer patients and their families has been provided for the last 30 years.”

Others don’t give free parking but make arrangements for special permits and reductions – and not just for cancer patients.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust gives concessions for those needing long-term treatment, as well as their families.

A spokeswoman for South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust said it provides discounted parking for any patient or relative who has the genuine need to attend the hospital for an extended period.

She said: “This is discretionary and requires the ward manager’s support to ensure that only appropriate patients or visitors receive the benefit.”

North Cumbria University Hospital said it also currently offers discounted rates.

A one-week permit costs £7.50, and it’s £15 for a month permit.

A similar picture emerges at City Hospitals Sunderland, where monthly permits costing £10 are available to long-term patients and visitors. At Newcastle’s Hospitals NHS Trust it used to be solely radiotherapy patients who could get free parking.

However, the trust currently gives free parking to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy patients who will be in the hospital for five hours or more.

A spokeswoman for Macmillan Cancer Support added: “We believe charging cancer patients for parking at hospital is wrong. We want every hospital in England to comply with the Government’s guidance to provide free or concessionary parking for patients travelling regularly to hospital for treatment.”